Anami Korechika, General

Anami Korechika, General (1887–1945),Japanese vice-minister of war in Prince Konoe's cabinet in 1940 and the leader of the faction which brought General Tōjō to power in October 1941. He subsequently commanded the Eleventh Army in China (see China incident) and the Second Area Army in Manchukuo. In November 1943 parts of the Second Area Army were transferred to strengthen Japanese forces fighting in the New Guinea campaign and Anami took control of operations there. In December 1944 he was made inspector-general of army aviation and chief of the army's aeronautical department before being appointed minister of war in Suzuki Kantarō's cabinet in April 1945.

In the months that followed he agonized between wanting peace and preventing dishonourable surrender. He was not for peace at any price and was sympathetic towards those who wanted to make a last glorious stand. However, when his support was canvassed by those junior army officers determined to defy the government's decision to surrender, he offered no encouragement. On the evening of 14 August these officers committed the impiety of invading the royal palace to remove the recording of the Emperor Hirohito's surrender announcement, which was to be broadcast at noon the next day. Anami waited to ensure that this insurrection had failed and then committed seppaku (see Bushidō) in expiation of the army's sins. His suicide ended any confusion and any further possibility of revolt by the army against the surrender decision.